Ozzy Osbourne Insists: ‘I’m Not Retiring’

“I’m not retiring,” Osbourne, 69, told Rolling Stone after the announcement. “It’s ‘No More Tours,’ so I’m just not doing world tours anymore. I’m still going to be doing gigs, but I’m not going on tour for six months at a time anymore. I’d like to spend some time at home. I've experienced fantastic things; it's been an incredible journey. I just need to slow it down a little.”

He added that he enjoyed being a grandfather and didn’t want “to go through another generation of Osbournes without seeing them grow up.” But he said he's considering another album, and Osbourne had “eight or nine good song ideas” ready to take into the studio. After that he aims to keep appearing on stage. “It’s what I do,” he said. “[I]t's a passion for me. It's the greatest love affair I ever had, being in a rock band and playing for the people who come to the shows.”

The Black Sabbath icon will be joined by guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos for the “No More Tours 2” road trip, which begins on Apr. 27 and ends on Oct. 13.

In the meantime, he's also mulling over the possibility of being made into a hologram at some point in the future. “If I’m gone, I don’t have a say in the matter,” Osbourne told Loudwire. He added: “I can’t complain,” before assuming a ghostly voice and saying: “I’m the Prince of Darkness. I will haunt you. Go f---king wild!"

Returning to the theme of performing after the farewell tour, he said he “wouldn’t mind” some form of residency shows. “I’m not saying I’m going to rush to Vegas to do it, but if it works out, I’d do it," Osbourne said. "I can fly back and forth, you know. But you’re not going to see me in a lounge drinking soft drinks."